Jammu: Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo on Friday urged law-enforcing agencies to take stringent measures to prevent narcotics from entering Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the rising drug menace reflects serious lapses in curbing supply lines.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said that the responsibility of preventing drugs from entering the Union Territory rests with law enforcement agencies. She observed that the level of destruction caused by substance abuse indicates that adequate checks have not been effectively enforced at entry points.
“Stopping drugs from entering Jammu and Kashmir is the job of law-enforcing agencies, and they must ensure strict vigilance. The Health Department’s role is to treat and rehabilitate those who have fallen victim to addiction, and we are doing that,” she said.
The Minister said the Health Department has strengthened de-addiction services across districts and is expanding treatment and counselling facilities to address the growing number of cases. She added that coordinated action between enforcement agencies and health authorities is essential to tackle both the supply and demand aspects of the problem.
Emphasizing a multi-pronged approach, she called for intensified surveillance, better intelligence sharing and strict enforcement to prevent narcotics from reaching the youth of the region. [KNT]
